Nine-Ball Billiard Game

ABSTRACT

A nine ball set which provides visual reference points to the player to assist the player in aiming a cue that the ball. All of the billiard balls are striped, including balls 1-8. The striped pattern provides visual reference points on the ball for aiming the cue. The one ball and the nine ball used in this set have different colors to distinguish them from one another. Preferably the color of one of them is similar to the yellow color used by a conventional nine ball set, but changed such that it is visually distinctive from the other ball. In the preferred embodiment, the eight ball is striped, but an alternative embodiment provides for a solid eight ball with white stripes to provide a visual reference point.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field

The present invention relates to billiard games. In particular, it relates to a modified nine-ball game which uses a unique set of ball patterns to assist players by providing reference points on the ball to help them strike the ball with the cue at the proper point so that they can control the motion of the ball.

The traditional game of nine-ball uses balls 1-9 of a conventional billiard balls set along with conventional cue ball. Because balls 1-8 have a solid color with only a number marking, it is difficult to determine the amount of English on the ball when watching the ball after it is hit. It would be desirable to have a nine ball set which provides the player with the ability to more accurately observe the English on the ball.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a new design for a nine ball set which provides visual indications to the player which help the player determine the new striped ball by establishing reference points on the ball. The improved set uses billiard balls in which all balls are striped, including balls 1-8. The striped pattern provides a greater visual indication for the player which allows the player to more accurately selected point to strike the ball. In the preferred embodiment, or nine ball used in this set has its original yellow color, and the one ball uses a different color to distinguish it from the nine ball. Preferably the color used by the one ball is similar to the yellow color used by the conventional nine ball, but changed such that it is visually distinctive from the nine ball. Alternatively, the one ball and remain its original yellow and the color of the nine ball can be changed. In the preferred embodiment, the eight ball is striped, but an alternative embodiment provides for a solid eight ball with white stripes to provide points of reference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates a one ball having a striped configuration.

FIG. 1B illustrates a two ball having a striped configuration.

FIG. 1C illustrates a three ball having a striped configuration.

FIG. 1D illustrates a four ball having a striped configuration.

FIG. 1E illustrates a five ball having a striped configuration.

FIG. 1F illustrates a six ball having a striped configuration.

FIG. 1G illustrates a seven ball having a striped configuration.

FIG. 1H illustrates an eight ball having a striped configuration.

FIG. 1I illustrates a nine ball having a striped configuration

FIG. 1J illustrates a standard cue ball.

FIG. 1K illustrates an alternative embodiment of nine ball with marking rings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Prior to a detailed discussion of the figures, a general overview of the system will be presented. This invention provides an improved set of billiard balls for the game of nine ball. In a conventional nine ball game, the billiard balls use balls 1-9 of the conventional billiard ball set. A drawback associated with a conventional set of nine balls is that balls 1-8 have a solid color which make it particularly difficult to determine the proper spot to strike the ball. It is difficult because there is no point of reference which the player can use when aiming at the ball. Only the nine ball is striped in a conventional nine ball set. The nine ball, because of the striping, provides a much better visual reference point which in turn helps player's game by improving the player's ability to select proper spot to strike the ball. Unfortunately, this is the only ball in a conventional nine ball set which provides a visual reference point.

The new set of billiard balls, provided herein, use a striped configuration for all of the balls except the cue ball. Due do this, the player will have convenient reference points on every ball when aiming the cue, which will result in the ball being hit more accurately. This improves the player's game by providing visual reference information which allows the player to modify the player's shots accordingly.

An alternative embodiment provides an eight ball which is not striped, but instead has upper and lower rings to assist the player by providing similar reference points.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that several modifications can be made to this configuration. For example, the width of the striping can vary, the size of the numerals used on the ball, and the size of the white circle which surrounds the numerals can vary widely, etc.

The colors can also be changed to any suitable color. However, those skilled in the art will also recognize that keeping the same color for balls will be more convenient and comfortable for the players, because those are the colors they are used to. Of course, the color for ball nine should be different than the color for ball one. In the preferred embodiment, the color of ball one is changed, but those skilled in the art will recognize that ball one can remain unchanged while ball nine is changed.

The materials used to fabricate the balls can be any suitable for the purposes.

Having discussed in general the new billiard ball configuration for the game of nine ball, we turn now to a more detailed discussion of the figures.

FIG. 1A illustrates a one ball 1 having a striped configuration. Unlike a conventional one ball, which has a solid color, the upper and lower portions of the ball have uncolored area's 11, 12 which are substantially white as is the case with a conventional one ball. The central part of the one ball used by this invention has a stripe 21 which is colored differently from the nine ball in a conventional billiard ball set. As those skilled in the art know, the one ball and the nine ball in a conventional set have the same color, but are distinguished from one another by one having a solid color and the other having a colored stripe. In this invention, the stripe and the upper and lower uncolored areas 11, 12 provide strong visual reference points on the ball to help the player align the cue. The visual feedback provided to the player by these visual reference points assists the player in improving the player's game allowing the player to more accurately aim the cue.

For ease of illustration, the area covered by the colored stripes 21-29 are indicated by diagonal lines. Of course, the actual stripes on the balls would have unique colors.

FIG. 1B illustrates a two ball 2 having a striped configuration. As was the case above, the upper and lower portions of the ball have uncolored areas 11, 12 which, unlike a conventional two ball, are substantially white. The central part of the two ball 2 used by this invention has a stripe 22 which is colored the same as a two ball in a conventional billiard ball set. As was the case above, the primary difference is that in this set the upper and lower uncolored areas 11, 12 provide visual reference points on the ball to allow the player to more accurately aim the cue.

FIG. 1C illustrates a three ball 3 having a striped configuration. As was the case above, the upper and lower portions of the ball have uncolored areas 11, 12 which, unlike a conventional three ball, are substantially white. The central part of the three ball 3 used by this invention has a stripe 23 which is colored the same as a three ball in a conventional billiard ball set. As was the case above, the upper and lower uncolored areas 11, 12 provide visual reference points on the ball to help the player determine where to hit the ball with the cue.

FIG. 1D illustrates a four ball 4 having a striped configuration. As was the case above, the upper and lower portions of the ball have uncolored areas 11, 12 which, unlike a conventional four ball, are substantially white. The central part of the four ball 4 used by this invention has a stripe 24 which is colored the same as a four ball in a conventional billiard ball set. As was the case above, the upper and lower uncolored areas 11, 12 provide visual reference points to the player to assist the player by helping the player correctly aim the cue.

FIG. 1E illustrates a five ball 5 having a striped configuration. As was the case above, the upper and lower portions of the ball have uncolored areas 11, 12 which are substantially white, unlike a conventional five ball. The central part of the five ball 5 used by this invention has a stripe 25 which is colored the same as a five ball in a conventional billiard ball set. As was the case above, the upper and lower uncolored areas 11, 12 provide visual reference points to the player to help the player properly aim the cue.

FIG. 1F illustrates a six ball 6 having a striped configuration. As was the case above, the upper and lower portions of the ball have uncolored areas 11, 12 which are substantially white, unlike a conventional six ball. The central part of the six ball 6 used by this invention has a stripe 26 which is colored the same as a six ball in a conventional billiard ball set. As was the case above, the upper and lower uncolored areas 11, 12 provide visual reference points to the player to improve the player's aim.

FIG. 1G illustrates a seven ball 7 having a striped configuration. As was the case above, the upper and lower portions of the ball have uncolored areas 11, 12 which are substantially white, unlike a conventional seven ball. The central part of the seven ball 7 used by this invention has a stripe 27 which is colored the same as a seven ball in a conventional billiard ball set. As was the case above, the upper and lower uncolored areas 11, 12 provide visual reference points to the player to improve the player's aim.

FIG. 1H illustrates an eight ball 8 having a striped configuration. Unlike a conventional eight ball, the eight ball 8 used by this invention provides upper and lower portions of the ball have uncolored areas 11, 12 which are substantially white. The central part of the eight ball 8 used by this invention has a stripe 28 which is colored the same as an eight ball in a conventional billiard ball set. As was the case above, the upper and lower uncolored areas 11, 12 provide visual reference points to the player to improve the player's ability to aim the cue.

FIG. 1I illustrates a nine ball 9 having a conventional striped configuration. The nine ball 9 used by this invention is preferably colored the same as a conventional nine ball in the billiard ball set. To avoid confusion, the one ball and the nine ball should have slightly different colors. Preferably, the one ball would have a slightly different color to distinguish it from the nine ball. Of course, it also be easy to change the color of the nine ball and leave the color of the one ball as it is.

FIG. 1J illustrates a standard cue ball 10.

FIG. 1K illustrates an alternative embodiment of an eight ball 8 with upper and lower marking rings 30, 31. This embodiment provides an eight ball 8 which is similar to a conventional eight ball. However, due to the upper and lower marking rings 30, 31, the player will receive the same visual reference points that he receives from the other balls in this set. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the upper and lower rings 30, 31 can vary in width to provide greater or lesser amounts of feedback to the player, and to suit particular design goals.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that while it is preferred to use colors similar to those used in a conventional billiard ball set, any particular color scheme can be used, provided that each ball has a unique color. Likewise, any material can be used to fabricate the balls so long as they are suitable for their purpose. In addition, the width of the stripes 21-29 can vary to suit any design scheme. Not only can the stripes vary in width, but the circle surrounding the numerals, and the numerals themselves can also vary.

For ease of discussion, invention has been presented using a simple lateral stripe which is configured in a similar manner to the lateral stripes used in the 9-15 balls of a conventional billiard ball set. However, the stripes need not be laid out in this matter they can be vertical, diagonal, multiple stripes, parallel, etc. The only requirement is that the markings used by the nine ball set provide sufficient visual reference points to assist the player in determining the proper place to strike the ball. It should also be noted that while the invention has been illustrated with white areas 11, 12 on the upper and lower portions of the balls, it can also be implemented with a single white area on upper lower or intermediate area of the ball, or by colors other than white. The only requirement is that the area selected should be sufficient to provide adequate visual reference point to properly aim the cue.

While the invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit, scope, and teaching of the invention. 

1. A nine ball set, further comprising: a set of nine billiard balls having unique numerals; the new balls each having a colored marking and at least one white area such that the ball provides visual reference points for aiming a cue. 